The Hoover Board of Education went directly into a closed executive session in its noon meeting today after Superintendent Andy Craig said he would like to read from a prepared statement.

School board member A.W. Bolt said the purpose of the executive session would be to discuss personnel and the former Berry Middle School. He said the session would last at least 30 minutes and probably an hour.

Craig likely will recommend his choice for a new Hoover High football coach at today's meeting, the school system's spokesman said this morning.

Craig also will make a recommendation on the former Berry Middle School, spokesman Jason Gaston said. Friday is the deadline on a proposed contract from Shades Mountain Christian School and the City of Vestavia Hills to purchase the site for $10 million.

Six finalists were named Wednesday as candidates to replace football coach Rush Propst, who resigned in October. The six candidates are:

--Josh Niblett, head coach at Oxford High School
--Bob Sphire, head coach at North Gwinnett High School in Georgia
-- Mike McCombs, head coach at Benjamin Russell High School
-- Toney Pugh, former head coach at Clay-Chalkville and Oak Mountain and an assistant at Spain Park and Hoover
-- Kevin Sherrer, current Hoover defensive coordinator
-- Jay Mathews, head coach at Christ Presbyterian Academy in Nashville, Tenn.

The board is meeting at the Farr Administration Building, 2810 Metropolitan Way.